Middle East Exclusive gains MEDFA backing

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Channels Exhibitions, organisers of next year's inaugural Middle East Exclusive exhibition, has announced that the event has gained the support of the Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA)

As part of its commitment to the region and the association, Middle East Exclusive has in turn entered into an agreement with MEDFA.

The first MEDFA conference will take place in Dubai on December 16 to 17 this year. Middle East Exclusive will be held almost a year later from December 1-3 2003 at the Dubai World Centre. Over 200 exhibitors and more than 2,500 visitors are expected to attend the exhibition, which will target buyers from the wider Middle East including North Africa, the Levant and the sub-continent.

Channels Exhibitions founder and managing director Justin Boutros said: "We are delighted that MEDFA is supporting our exhibition. The event will be much stronger for that backing, which underlines how the local retail community believes Middle East Exclusive will assist the extraordinary development of travel-related retailing in this region.

"We're also proud to have entered into an agreement with MEDFA. The association is playing a critical role in protecting and building the region's duty free industry and their first-ever conference is a tremendous step forward for the Middle East."

MEDFA president John Sutcliffe said: "We are pleased to have an agreement with Middle East Exclusive. Channels are the first to organise this type of exhibition in our region. We wish them every success. Their event will help the region's development and as such is welcomed by MEDFA. We now call on everyone in the industry to support the event."